Shanghai International Studies University

Shanghai International Studies University (SHISU), founded in 1949, is a key university under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. As a foreign language university committed to providing a variety of applied programs, SHISU prepares professionals qualified for roles in international affairs having expertise in more than one specialty. At present, the University is running 36 bachelor’s degree programs, 33 master’s degree programs, 12 doctoral programs and 1 postdoctoral station. In addition, it has 3 national key disciplines and 2 municipal key disciplines of Shanghai, 1 national research center of humanities & social sciences. Currently, SHISU has a full-time enrollment of over 6000 undergraduate students, 1500 postgraduate students, 800 college students.

SHISU advocates the modern open educational ideas. As early as its birth in 1949, there were foreign experts working for the school. Thanks to China’s reform and policy of opening up to the outside world, international students’ education in SHISU has grown rapidly in the past two decades. SHISU regards opening-up and cultural exchanges with foreign countries as the basis of its further development. Its open-minded attitude allows it to fully draw on the excellent achievements and experiences of other countries in higher education. It encourages the faculty and students to raise their international awareness and strengthen their communicative abilities in order to fully show the appeal of international education of the University. SHISU takes an active part in international academic exchanges. As an active advocator of international academic exchange and cooperation, SHISU has entered into partnership with 197 renowned universities in 43 countries and regions. Every year, foreign experts and teachers are invited to teach or give lectures, and more than 100 Chinese teachers are sent abroad for advanced studies or academic visits. SHISU has also set up one radio station and a TV station, broadcasting in foreign languages. Additionally, satellite reception was installed so that the students have free 24-hour access to more than 20 overseas channels which broadcast in many different languages, including English, Japanese, Russian, French, Arabic. Here, students of different nationalities gather together and live in harmony in this big international family.

In SHISU, the International Students’ Education has always been an essential part of its international communication. Since it started to enroll oversea students in the late 1970s, SHISU has gained invaluable experiences in the international education and the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language. It now offers various programs at different levels, ranging from short-term Chinese lessons, degree and non-degree Chinese language programs to the Master’s and doctoral programs in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Over the past 30 years, these programs have benefited some 25,000 international students from over 100 countries and regions. Currently there are more than 1,400 full time international students studying for long-term programs and around 900 for short-term academic visits and training.